Seven cities have tackled faecal sludge

Seven cities have tackled faecal sludge

News:

Seven cities all in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh – have been certified ODF++, according to the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban.

Facts:

• The seven cities are Indore, Khargone, Sahaganj, Ujjain, Bhilai, Rajnandgaon and Ambikapur
• These are the first cities to qualify under the government’s new extended protocol to sustain gains made under the basic ODF protocol
• The certification, an extension of the ODF or Open Defecation Free protocol, means that all the faecal sludge and sewage in these cities is treated scientifically before discharge.
• These cities have 100% of their faecal matter treated by sewage treatment plants or faecal sludge treatment plants.
• They are also free of open defecation and open urination, with at least 25% of the community and public toilets in excellent condition.
• The Urban Affairs Ministry is setting up a sub-mission on faecal sludge management under its AMRUT scheme for 500 cities and towns.

SBM ODF++: Definition

• A city can be notified/ declared as SBM ODF++ if, at any point of the day, not a single person is found defecating and/ or urinating in the open, all community and public toilets are functional and well maintained, AND faecal sludge/septage and sewage is safely managed and treated, with no discharging and/or dumping of untreated faecal sludge/septage and sewage in drains, water bodies or open areas.